METHOD FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE BY DETECTING VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN EXHALED AIR

摘要

The present invention relates to the identification of markers for the disease conditions related to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). We describe the identification of a set of volatile organic compound (VOC) markers that can be used in the diagnosis of COPD. More in particular we found that these markers can be used in the early diagnosis of COPD. Moreover, these markers are useful in the prediction of the occurrence of COPD even when no other clinical signs are apparent yet. The method is useful since it provides a new non-invasive, easy, safe, cost effective and fast diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of COPD. The invention therefore relates to a method for the diagnosis of COPD by detecting the presence of at least two VOCs selected from a group of six VOCs in exhaled air wherein said at least 6 VOCs are isoprene, C16 hydrocarbon, 4,7-dimethyl undecane, 2,6-dimethyl heptane, 4-methyl octane and hexadecane.